Westminster 1822

To Honor The Agreement

Minutes bled into hours and the night seemed to have no end. Many of the guests had left. Emily found a chair that hadn’t been taken away in the ballroom. Elton was engaged with a few of his friends that stayed to finish the wine. It had to be close to midnight. If Emily stepped outside, she would be able to see the man smiling in the moon.

‘A first of many parties.’ Emily said to herself.

Perhaps there was hope. She would find those who sought more than titles that elevated men. Maybe there was a life with more adventure than ringing bells over the next sunrise. If he was by her side would it makes meaningless chatter bearable? Would his toothy smile soften the agony of a life condemned to societal ways? Emily wondered if she would really be content. Would the accent in Elton's deep voice be worth hearing each morning the sun seeped into their room and as the moon rose over their roof forever after? What if he wasn’t by her side.

Emily tore her gaze away from him and fiddled with her fingers.

‘I’ve just be told the most wonderful news, Darling!’ Countess Lucia pulled a chair next to Emily.

Emily held back a gasp and presented the Countess with a smile. ‘Do share.’

‘Your Father has announced Ella will we’d Lord Harris in a week! That means we shall have Westminster for a summer wedding. Isn’t it marvellous?!’

Emily’s eyes became as wide as globes. ‘Ella’s marrying Harris so soon?’

‘Yes, if you ask me it is the Marquess of Birmingham who is desperate to ensure this marriage. This marriage would save him many debts, so I’ve heard is a condition of the marriage. Unfortunately, that will not guarantee everything will be alright for the Kelly family. Ella faces a rapid decline in status if the Kelly estates aren’t saved.’

‘That’s why Ella doesn’t want to marry Harris.’ Emily whispered. Ella thrived on status and popularity. If the Kelly family lost land and wealth, they wouldn’t hold the same esteem with the rest of the wealthy class. Surely, her friends would abandon her, she wouldn’t be invited to all the fancy parties. Emily wondered if Father had thought these marriages thoroughly.

‘She would be with a good man, right?’ Emily asked.

Lucia's voice softened, she took Emily’s hand in her own. ‘Oh dear child.’ She watched her son laugh with his friends.

‘If only love was enough.’ She added.

‘How can it not be?’ Emily asked.

Lucia caressed Emily’s cheek. ‘I would have braved a thousand winters with the hand of the love of my life burned to mine. To have someone look at me not as a trophy, but as the other half of their soul. Life had other plans for me. So, to wed and save my family I did. For the sake of my sons I stayed and stayed silent.’ She smiled. ‘In our world Emily only the bravest run after love only the ludicrous fight to keep it. True love is an incredible thing my dear. I hope you will be wise always.’

Eventually the doors of Westminster finally closed. The ball had been a grand success. The Bentley family were about to depart. Liam had passed out in the living room. Emily hadn’t seen her Father or Ella, it seemed even Furlong had abandoned the scene for her room.

‘Someone has to carry Liam to the carriage.’ Lucia sighed. Amelia rolled her eyes and followed Lucia to call the footman.

Elton took Emily’s hands and pressed them against his lips. He ran circles on the back of her hands with his thumb. ‘I can’t wait to tire you out again. Will you go riding with me?’

‘Only if you’re prepared to be embarrassed.’

‘Uh, are you challenging me to a race?’

The sound of glass smashing into a thousand pieces over head stole the sleep from Emily’s eyes.

‘What was that?’

More glass smashed against the floor, coming from the rooms above them. A woman screamed, Elton launched into action.

‘Wait here.’ Elton darted to the stairs.

‘No, it could be my Father!’ Emily brushed pasted him.

They found Furlong standing outside Oscar’s door with her ear pressed up against the white double doors.

‘What’s going on, Furlong? Is my Father alright?’

Furlong waved her hands in the air, though it couldn’t distract from the yelling and the smashing glass coming from the room.

‘Something clearly isn’t right.’ Elton said.

‘Oh no, Emily please escort Lord Elton downstairs.’ Furlong ordered.

Emily brushed passed her and rattled the handle. ‘It’s Ella, isn’t it?’ The door wouldn’t budge.

‘Let me handle this Emily.’ Furlong said through clenched teeth.

Emily slammed her hand against the door. ‘Ella! Open this door right now!’

‘I will not let him humiliate me.’ Ella yelled.

A set of jiggling keys sounded behind Emily, she moved aside for Agrona to open the door.

‘Take Lord Elton downstairs this instant Emily.’ Furlong demanded, Emily glued her feet to the ground. ‘Hurry up Agrona!’ Ella hurled something against the door.

Elton pulled Emily away from the door as Agrona struggled to jab the right key in the hole.

‘Ella please, calm down. Harris is an excellent young man.’ Oscar sat at his desk, clutching the edges of the table.

‘Not excellent enough for me! You always loved Emily more of course, despite how uncultured she is. No one even knows she exists. She’s like a ghost! Just like her Mother!’ Ella screamed.

Emily gasped and stiffened in Elton’s hold.

‘Enough!’ Oscar hammered his fist on the table. A thousand needles attacked his heart. He grabbed his chest and cried.

‘Father!’ Emily cried, but Elton held her.

Ella froze as her Father's face turned red and he struggled in his seat.

‘Get them both out of here!’ Oscar commanded. Furlong yanked Ella’s arm and dragged her out of the study. Elton turned Emily down the stairs as Agrona shut the double doors.

‘You’re a fool for siding with them, Furlong. You’ll all be lower than sewer rats very soon.’ Ella spat, the veins popping out of her neck, her hair out of place.

‘That is enough from you Ella.’ Furlong said, foreboding bubbled in her chest, still she hauled Ella to her room.

Her sister, her dear little sister. Though, they were too different in their ways, were they still not blood? Did Emily not have the responsibility to protect her younger sister? A marriage to Harris would be much better suited to Emily than Ella. But matches made on paper couldn’t hold up against what she felt for Elton. Where was the wisdom Countess Lucia spoke about.

They were alone in the living room. ‘Don’t worry, your Father will be fine.’

‘I don’t think Ella will be fine. She doesn’t want to marry Harris. I’m really worried about what she’ll do to prevent her marriage.’

‘Is your sister in love with someone else?’

Emily gripped his hands. ‘Not exactly. Elton, she’s hell-bent on marrying you. I don’t know I think I should—’

Elton narrowed his eyes and stopped her before she could finish. ‘What? You think you should let your sister have her way? Just so she can have a fashionable arrangement?’

‘Isn’t that what we are Elton? A fashionable arrangement?’ Emily shrugged.

Elton held her face. ‘I don’t feel the weight of obligation when I’m with you. I feel a lot I can’t explain.’ He brushed her lower lip with his thumb, the need to cover her pink lips with him lips overpowered him. He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. It was soft and quick.

The footman marched in, startling Emily out of her skin.

‘My Lord, the carriage is waiting for you.’ He bowed and left.

Elton smiled, Emily couldn’t quite meet his eyes.

Elton chuckled. He knew what he had done. ‘I’ll see you soon. I’m looking forward to our race.’

‘Elton wait!’ She called as he walked away. Elton smiled and proceeded to leave.

Emily brushed her lips and held her stomach that did held a thousand colourful butterflies captive.